The current MV Theater kids’ show is “The Princess and the Pea,” about a single pea placed under many of the princesses’ mattresses, but it only disrupts the sleep of one princess. The play will take place at Mt. Vernon Township High School in the school’s Theater on October 16th and 17th.
“My favorite part of the play is when Princess Panichelle Islaplemons appears because she’s very dramatic and entertaining.” Mrs. Raquel Bliffen, the drama club sponsor and English teacher, stated.
Mrs. Bliffen said the play’s most challenging aspect was its large cast and numerous princesses.
“I got into theatre because I was force-fed it. The teacher would say ‘Raquel Sing’ and I would sing. While performing, the music stopped playing this time, and we had to do it a cappella. We just began singing without it,” Mrs. Bliffen said.
“Everyone has improved in their own way. There isn’t just one specific person who improved the most,” Mrs. Bliffen said. She enjoys the plays the most about theatre because they aren’t severe. Mrs. Bliffen would love to perform the play Big Fish because it’s her dream show.
Brianna Schoenrock, ’26, a stage crew member, said, “All roles are important. Everyone has a specific role to fulfill.”
She’s in the Drama Club and in the Tabletop Club. Bri is in stage crew, and her role in the play is to help build the sets and the bed. Her favorite part is the interactions between people.
A bystander, Mr. Andrew Kopin, mentioned that he doesn’t watch many plays, but this one sounds interesting.
Mr. Kopin also stated how plays are important because they pass on traditions of theatre and stories.
The Princess and the Pea play is based on the original, which was created by Hans Christian Andersen, a Danish author, and published in 1835.
Hans stated, “The play was based on traditional folktales I heard as a child,” which may or may not have been altered, considering that it was in 1835.
The play had more layers beneath it. The pea symbolized the princess’s true identity and sensitivity.
There’s a movie called The Princess and the Pea, which was made in 2002, continuing Hans’ traditional folk tales he wrote about.
Most folk tales have an antagonist, but this one doesn’t. Fulfilling the role of the antagonist, which is to find the actual, honest princess, is a challenge.
